[Adopted 12-13-2017]
The purpose of this article is to:
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any hooved animal, such as cattle, bison, swine, goats, sheep,
llamas, camels, horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other hooved animals.
When used in the singular, the term in this article shall be referred
to as "livestock."
The accessible portion of a property that will be used solely
for the keeping of hooved animals and that contains no steep slopes
or significant rock outcroppings.
A.
All buildings and structures used for housing hooved animals shall
require zoning and building permits.
B.
A run-in shed or enclosed building shall be provided that is sized
to simultaneously accommodate all hooved animals on the property.
(For horses, a 10 foot by 10 foot enclosed area per horse is required.)
C.
Fencing shall be installed and maintained to safely contain the hooved
animals within the property. Such fencing must be set back five feet
from all adjacent property lines. Alternatively, a solid board fence
may be installed on the property line if it is of sufficient height
so as to prevent encroachment by the hooved animal(s) onto neighboring
properties.
A.
Manure shall be collected frequently from all areas and regularly
removed from the property to maintain a sanitary condition and minimize
odor, dust-producing substances and waste so as to prevent any health
hazard, pollutants, disturbance or nuisance conditions with respect
to adjacent properties and the neighboring community.
B.
The setback for any manure pile shall be a minimum of 15 feet from
any property line and in compliance with all local and state environmental
regulations.
A.
The Director of Health shall enforce the provisions of this article
pursuant to the Public Health Code.
B.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §§ 19a-229
and 19a-9 through 19a-14 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies,
the Director of Health shall include in any order issued pursuant
to this section a notice of an individual's right to appeal any
such order to the Commissioner of Public Health.
C.
The Director of Health shall first issue a warning to a landowner
if such landowner's property is in violation of this article.
Thereafter, if the landowner does not comply within 30 days, the Director
of Health shall issue a written order to the landowner via certified
mail, return receipt requested, to comply with this article by a specified
date, not to be more than 30 days.
D.
If the landowner does not comply with the order by the specified
date, the landowner shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less
than $100 nor more than $250 per day for each day the violation persists
after the date specified by the Director of Health.
E.
Penalties shall be made payable to the Town of Ridgefield and shall
be deposited with the Town's Tax Collector.
F.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-206, in
order to enforce an order of the Director of Health, the Director
of Health or any official authorized to institute civil proceedings
on behalf of the Town may seek an injunction in the Superior Court,
a court order for collection of the civil penalty addressed herein,
and other remedies pursuant to statute.
Any landowner aggrieved by an order issued by the Director of
Health may appeal that order to the Commissioner of Public Health
not later than three business days after the date of such person's
receipt of such order, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-229.
